Development Of Mood Disorders Research Articles

Struggling Can Also Show on the Inside: Current Knowledge of the Impact of Childhood Maltreatment on Biomarkers in Mood Disorders.

The link between childhood maltreatment and mood disorders is complex and involves multiple bio-psycho-social factors that affect multiple molecular pathways. The present narrative review aims to clarify the current understanding of the impact of childhood maltreatment on biomarkers in patients with mood disorders and their first-degree relatives. Neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and hormones (eg the stress hormone cortisol), play a crucial role in regulating mood and emotion. Childhood maltreatment can alter and affect the levels and functioning of these neurotransmitters in the brain; further, childhood maltreatment can lead to structural and connectivity changes in the brain, hence contributing to the development of mood disorders and moderating illness presentation and modifying response to treatments. Childhood maltreatment information, therefore, appears mandatory in treatment planning and is a critical factor in therapeutic algorithms. Further research is needed to fully understand these pathways and develop new treatment modalities for individuals with mood disorders who have experienced childhood maltreatment and effective preventive interventions for individuals at risk of developing mood disorders.

Microbial composition, functionality, and stress resilience or susceptibility: unraveling sex-specific patterns

BackgroundFollowing exposure to traumatic stress, women are twice as likely as men to develop mood disorders. Yet, individual responses to such stress vary, with some people developing stress-induced psychopathologies while others exhibit resilience. The factors influencing sex-related disparities in affective disorders as well as variations in resilience remain unclear; however, emerging evidence suggests differences in the gut microbiota play a role. In this study, using the single prolonged stress (SPS) model of post-traumatic stress disorder, we investigated pre- and post-existing differences in microbial composition, functionality, and metabolites that affect stress susceptibility or resilience in each sex.MethodsMale and female Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly assigned to control or SPS groups. Two weeks following SPS, the animals were exposed to a battery of behavioral tests and decapitated a day later. Based on their anxiety index, they were further categorized as SPS-resilient (SPS-R) or SPS-susceptible (SPS-S). On the day of dissection, cecum, and selected brain tissues were isolated. Stool samples were collected before and after SPS, whereas urine samples were taken before and 30 min into the SPS.ResultsBefore SPS exposure, the sympathoadrenal axis exhibited alterations within male subgroups only. Expression of tight junction protein claudin-5 was lower in brain of SPS-S males, but higher in SPS-R females following SPS. Across the study, alpha diversity remained consistently lower in males compared to females. Beta diversity revealed distinct separations between male and female susceptible groups before SPS, with this separation becoming evident in the resilient groups following SPS. At the genus level, Lactobacillus, Lachnospiraceae_Incertae_Sedis, and Barnesiella exhibited sex-specific alterations, displaying opposing abundances in each sex. Additionally, sex-specific changes were observed in microbial predictive functionality and targeted functional modules both before and after SPS. Alterations in the microbial short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), were also observed, with major and minor SCFAs being lower in SPS-susceptible males whereas branched-chain SCFAs being higher in SPS-susceptible females.ConclusionThis study highlights distinct pre- and post-trauma differences in microbial composition, functionality, and metabolites, associated with stress resilience in male and female rats. The findings underscore the importance of developing sex-specific therapeutic strategies to effectively address stress-related disorders.HighlightsSPS model induces divergent anxiety and social behavioral responses to traumatic stress in both male and female rodents.SPS-resilient females displayed less anxiety-like behavior and initiated more interactions towards a juvenile rat than SPS-resilient males.Sex-specific pre-existing and SPS-induced differences in the gut microbial composition and predictive functionality were observed in susceptible and resilient rats.SPS-resilient males displayed elevated cecal acetate levels, whereas SPS-susceptible females exhibited heightened branched-chain SCFAs.

Long-term impact of maternal obesity on the gliovascular unit and ephrin signaling in the hippocampus of adult offspring.

Children born to obese mothers are at increased risk of developing mood disorders and cognitive impairment. Experimental studies have reported structural changes in the brain such as the gliovascular unit as well as activation of neuroinflammatory cells as a part of neuroinflammation processing in aged offspring of obese mothers. However, the molecular mechanisms linking maternal obesity to poor neurodevelopmental outcomes are not well established. The ephrin system plays a major role in a variety of cellular processes including cell-cell interaction, synaptic plasticity, and long-term potentiation. Therefore, in this study we determined the impact of maternal obesity in pregnancy on cortical, hippocampal development, vasculature and ephrin-A3/EphA4-signaling, in the adult offspring in mice. Maternal obesity was induced in mice by a high fat/high sugar Western type of diet (HF/HS). We collected brain tissue (prefrontal cortex and hippocampus) from 6-month-old offspring of obese and lean (control) dams. Hippocampal volume, cortical thickness, myelination of white matter, density of astrocytes and microglia in relation to their activity were analyzed using 3-D stereological quantification. mRNA expression of ephrin-A3, EphA4 andsynaptic markers were measured by qPCR in the brain tissue. Moreover, expression of gap junction protein connexin-43, lipocalin-2, and vascular CD31/Aquaporin 4 were determined in the hippocampus by immunohistochemistry. Volume of hippocampus and cortical thickness were significantly smaller, and myelination impaired, while mRNA levels of hippocampal EphA4 and post-synaptic density (PSD) 95 were significantly lower in the hippocampus in the offspring of obese dams as compared to offspring of controls. Further analysis of the hippocampal gliovascular unit indicated higher coverage of capillaries by astrocytic end-feet, expression of connexin-43 and lipocalin-2 in endothelial cells in the offspring of obese dams. In addition, offspring of obese dams demonstrated activation of microglia together with higher density of cells, while astrocyte cell density was lower. Maternal obesity affects brain size, impairs myelination, disrupts the hippocampal gliovascular unit and decreases the mRNA expression of EphA4 and PSD-95 in the hippocampus of adult offspring. These results indicate that the vasculature-glia cross-talk may be an important mediator of altered synaptic plasticity, which could be a link between maternal obesity and neurodevelopmental/neuropsychiatric disorders in the offspring.

Unraveling how the adolescent brain deals with criticism using dynamic causal modeling

Sensitivity to criticism, which can be defined as a negative evaluation that a person receives from someone else, is considered a risk factor for the development of psychiatric disorders in adolescents. They may be more vulnerable to social evaluation than adults and exhibit more inadequate emotion regulation strategies such as rumination. The neural network involved in dealing with criticism in adolescents may serve as a biomarker for vulnerability to depression. However, the directions of the functional interactions between the brain regions within this neural network in adolescents are still unclear. In this study, 64 healthy adolescents (aged 14 to 17 years) were asked to listen to a series of self-referential auditory segments, which included negative (critical), positive (praising), and neutral conditions, during fMRI scanning. Dynamic Causal Modeling (DCM) with Parametric Empirical Bayesian (PEB) analysis was performed to map the interactions within the neural network that was engaged during the processing of these segments. Three regions were identified to form the interaction network: the left pregenual anterior cingulate cortex (pgACC), the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), and the right precuneus (preCUN). We quantified the modulatory effects of exposure to criticism and praise on the effective connectivity between these brain regions. Being criticized was found to significantly inhibit the effective connectivity from the preCUN to the DLPFC. Adolescents who scored high on the Perceived Criticism Measure (PCM) showed less inhibition of the preCUN-to-DLPFC connectivity when being criticized, which may indicate that they required more engagement of the Central Executive Network (which includes the DLPFC) to sufficiently disengage from negative self-referential processing. Furthermore, the inhibitory connectivity from the DLPFC to the pgACC was strengthened by exposure to praise as well as criticism, suggesting a recruitment of cognitive control over emotional responses when dealing with positive and negative evaluative feedback. Our novel findings contribute to a more profound understanding of how criticism affects the adolescent brain and can help to identify potential biomarkers for vulnerability to develop mood disorders before or during adulthood.

“Fatherman” On the Move: Social Transformation Strategy in Indonesian Family Education

“Fatherlessness” has long been a worldwide issue and social trend of our time. Research suggests that high-risk children in single-parent homes have nearly five times greater chance of developing mood disorders than those in co-parenting households. This article discusses “Fatherman”, an agency that voices the vital role of fathers in becoming psychological heroes for their children. The study aims to explore the strategy of the “Fatherman” agency in educating parents in Indonesia and to understand how “Fatherman”’s initiatives relate to gender roles and their broader impact on Indonesian society. This study employed a qualitative research approach by utilizing the content analysis method on several “Fatherman” social media accounts and books. The findings of this study revealed that the strategy adopted by the founders of the “Fatherman” account, namely Ustadz Bendri Jaisyurrahman and Ayah Irwan Rinaldi, makes fathers aware of their important role in the domestic sphere. This can be seen from the testimonials of online course participants, followers of the “Fatherman” account, and readers of the “Fatherman” books. Furthermore, the understanding of fatherhood has changed over time. Fatherhood has always been a multifaceted concept, from just being a provider (nafaqah) to becoming a role model for children, giving marital support, and nurturing. Based on a gender perspective, “Fatherman” still seems ambiguous and semi-patriarchal. The fundamental barrier is that masculinity, as currently constructed, becomes a tension for men to be fully involved in nurturing and household work. While “Fatherman” aims to encourage fathers to actively engage in parenting, they advertently reinforce gender superiority or perpetuate traditional gender roles. The social transformation that “Fatherman” offers is a changing perception of a father’s role in nurturing. Certainly, there is no “one-size-fits-all” solution to the fatherlessness crisis in Indonesia today. However, “Fatherman” agency will be one of the leading voices in providing an understanding of the father’s role.

Detecting mean changes in experience sampling data in real time: A comparison of univariate and multivariate statistical process control methods.

Detecting early warning signals of developing mood disorders in continuously collected affective experience sampling (ESM) data would pave the way for timely intervention and prevention of a mood disorder from occurring or to mitigate its severity. However, there is an urgent need for online statistical methods tailored to the specifics of ESM data. Statistical process control (SPC) procedures, originally developed for monitoring industrial processes, seem promising tools. However, affective ESM data violate major assumptions of the SPC procedures: The observations are not independent across time, often skewed distributed, and characterized by missingness. Therefore, evaluating SPC performance on simulated data with typical ESM features is a crucial step. In this article, we didactically introduce six univariate and multivariate SPC procedures: Shewhart, Hotelling's T², EWMA, MEWMA, CUSUM and MCUSUM. Their behavior is illustrated on publicly available affective ESM data of a patient that relapsed into depression. To deal with the missingness, autocorrelation, and skewness in these data, we compute and monitor the day averages rather than the individual measurement occasions. Moreover, we apply all procedures on simulated data with typical affective ESM features, and evaluate their performance at detecting small to moderate mean changes. The simulation results indicate that the (M)EWMA and (M)CUSUM procedures clearly outperform the Shewhart and Hotelling's T² procedures and support using day averages rather than the original data. Based on these results, we provide some recommendations for optimizing SPC performance when monitoring ESM data as well as a wide range of directions for future research. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Risk factors for mood disorders among offspring of parents with bipolar disorder: Findings from a discordant-sibling study

The purpose of this naturalistic, prospective study was to identify risk factors for mood disorders in offspring of parents with bipolar disorder (BPD) using the discordant-sibling design by comparing premorbid psychopathology or symptoms, temperament, personality traits and coping style as well as the perception of family-related characteristics among affected and unaffected siblings within the same family. This approach controls for confounding by unmeasured genetic and environmental factors shared within families. Our sample comprised 24 families of a parent with BPD with at least one child that developed BPD or major depressive disorder (n=31), and at least one child who did not. Offspring were followed for a mean duration of 16.2 (s.d: 4.6) years. Information was collected from the offspring themselves. Generalized linear mixed models only revealed differences in three dimensions of the Dimension of Temperament Survey-Revised (DOTS-R) version: Offspring with mood disorders scored higher on "Approach-withdrawal", "Rhythmicity for daily habits", and "Task orientation" than their unaffected siblings. The higher scores, and not lower scores as expected, on these temperament dimensions observed in offspring that subsequently developed mood disorders may reflect increased vulnerability, but they could also mirror premorbid mood swings or strategies to cope with them.

The Importance of Adverse Childhood Experiences in Depressive Symptoms and Their Biological Consequences in Healthy Adults: Results of a Polish University Student Study.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have a long-lasting effect on both physical and mental health. The aim of this study was to assess the consequences of ACEs and experienced stress on depression and the role of biological disturbances in this relationship in a student population. Potential participants filled out a screening questionnaire; 60 of 126 students met the inclusion criteria and were tested for the severity of stress and depressive symptoms, ACEs, dietary habits, and serum concentrations of biological markers. Depressive symptoms were related to a younger age (p = 0.012), a higher severity of stress (p = 0.001), ACEs (p = 0.007), and lower triglyceride (p = 0.01) and cortisol concentrations (p = 0.01). An inverse relationship between the triglyceride concentration and emotional abuse (R = -0.38) and emotional neglect (R = -0.33) was found. Occludin was positively associated with physical abuse (R = 0.31). Cortisol was inversely associated with emotional abuse (R = -0.35). Emotional neglect was associated with lipopolysaccharide binding protein (R = 0.38) and insulin levels (R = -0.31). The most promising multi-panel of biomarkers for recognizing mood symptoms included triglycerides, tight junction protein 1, and cortisol (cut-offs of ≤ 95.5 mg/dL, 0.72 ng/mL, and 134.63 ng/mL, respectively). This study confirmed the association between ACEs and depressive symptoms and the importance of psychological stress in developing mood disorders. ACEs could affect biological dysregulation. Some of the biological markers could be helpful in early detection of depression.

Sleep apnea syndrome and psychiatric syndromes and complications or comorbidities?

Introduction: This study investigated the relationship between sleep disorders and psychiatric disorders. Several studies have shown that there is a correlation between these two types of disorders, but it is important to better understand this relationship to help diagnose and treat patients with these disorders. Method: We reviewed several studies conducted by leading universities on the relationship between sleep disorders and psychiatric disorders. We also examined the effects of certain medications on these disorders. Results: The studies showed that there is a correlation between sleep apnea and anxiety and depressive disorders. In addition, sleep deprivation has been associated with an increased risk of developing mood disorders such as depression and anxiety, as well as psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia. However, some medications, such as Quetiapine, have been effective in treating patients with psychotic disorders. Discussion: The results of this study highlight the importance of considering sleep disorders in the diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric disorders. It is essential to monitor metabolic parameters when using antipsychotic medications such as quetiapine. Management of sleep disorders may also be an effective way to prevent or treat associated psychiatric disorders. Conclusion: In sum, this study highlights the importance of considering sleep disorders in the diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric disorders, and underscores the effectiveness of treatments such as Quetiapine, Fluvoxamine and CPAP in managing these disorders. Considering the quality of sleep can thus contribute to significantly improve the quality of life of patients.

The Effects of Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress and Semi-Pure Diets on the Brain, Gut and Adrenal Medulla in C57BL6 Mice.

Chronic stress is known to perturb serotonergic regulation in the brain, leading to mood, learning and memory impairments and increasing the risk of developing mood disorders. The influence of the gut microbiota on serotonergic regulation in the brain has received increased attention recently, justifying the investigation of the role of diet on the gut and the brain in mood disorders. Here, using a 4-week chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) model in mice, we aimed to investigate the effects of a high-fat high-glycaemic index (HFD) and high-fibre fruit & vegetable "superfood" (SUP) modifications of a semi-pure AIN93M diet on behaviour, serotonin synthesis and metabolism pathway regulation in the brain and the gut, as well as the gut microbiota and the peripheral adrenal medullary system. CUMS induced anxiety-like behaviour, dysregulated the tryptophan and serotonin metabolic pathways in the hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, and colon, and altered the composition of the gut microbiota. CUMS reduced the catecholamine synthetic capacity of the adrenal glands. Differential effects were found in these parameters in the HFD and SUP diet. Thus, dietary modifications may profoundly affect the multiple dynamic systems involved in mood disorders.

Abnormal and Changing Information Interaction in Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Based on Network Motifs.

Network motif analysis approaches provide insights into the complexity of the brain's functional network. In recent years, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been reported to result in abnormal information interactions in macro- and micro-scale functional networks. However, most existing studies remain limited due to potentially ignoring meso-scale topology information. To address this gap, we aimed to investigate functional motif patterns in ADHD to unravel the underlying information flow and analyze motif-based node roles to characterize the different information interaction methods for identifying the abnormal and changing lesion sites of ADHD. The results showed that the interaction functions of the right hippocampus and the right amygdala were significantly increased, which could lead patients to develop mood disorders. The information interaction of the bilateral thalamus changed, influencing and modifying behavioral results. Notably, the capability of receiving information in the left inferior temporal and the right lingual gyrus decreased, which may cause difficulties for patients in processing visual information in a timely manner, resulting in inattention. This study revealed abnormal and changing information interactions based on network motifs, providing important evidence for understanding information interactions at the meso-scale level in ADHD patients.

The Impact of Food Deprivation and Starvation on Mental Health: Blockade on Artsakh (Nagorno - Karabakh)

Starvation is the deliberate deprivation of food that occurs when perpetrators impede the victims from accessing the necessities to sustain life. Throughout history, starvation had been utilized as a form of genocide by many past regimes. It is used as a method to enforce a surrender from the victim or as a military strategy during warfare. Genocide, one of the most devasting crimes against humanity, as defined by Rafael Lempkin and categorized by the United Nations Genocide Convention, is the deliberate attempt to annihilate a certain ethnic, religious, or social group of people. The purpose of this article is to examine the immediate and lasting effects of the cognitive, psychological, and mental aspects of starvation. In this current blockade of Artsakh, a dispute arises in the Artsakh region, also known as the Nagorno-Karabakh region, between Azerbaijan and the Republic (unrecognized) of Artsakh. Since December 12, 2022, ecologists from Azerbaijan have blocked the Berdzor (Lachin) Corridor, the only route that linked Artsakh to the world, thus preventing the transportation of fuel, medicine, and food. Russian peacekeepers have been stationed at the Corridor in Artsakh; however, the Azerbaijan government has consolidated its blockade and has disregarded the appeals made by the Russian peacekeepers. In this article, the effects of starvation on the cognitive, psychological, and mental functioning of the human body are presented as they related to historical genocide. The impacts of starvation and malnutrition can be highly detrimental, leading to long-lasting impacts, and can disrupt the balance of essential nutrients and neurotransmitters in the brain, such as serotonin and dopamine. Malnourishment also impairs cognitive function, leading to symptoms like fatigue, weakness, irritation, poor memory, and attention deficit. Fluctuating blood sugar levels and imbalanced hormones caused by starvation impact emotional regulation and increase the risk of developing mood disorders. The blockade of Artsakh could potentially cause both severe short term and long-term damage to the mental health of the victims. Since the blockade occurred more than 250 days ago, detrimental damages have already occurred. This article strongly calls upon the international community to take immediate action against this blockade and help prevent future genocide. Keywords: Starvation, Genocide, Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), blockade, Lachin corridor, bioactive compound, functional foods

The Italian language postpartum specific anxiety scale [PSAS-IT]: translation, psychometric evaluation, and validation.

While often positive, the lifecourse transition to motherhood is susceptible to the risk for developing mood disorders. Postpartum anxiety has often been overshadowed by other perinatal-specific mental health disorders, such as postpartum depression, and therefore has not been at the forefront or center of as much empirical study. This has meant there is a lack of effective and reliable tools with which to measure it, despite growing evidence suggesting its detrimental impact on mothers, their babies, wider family and social contacts, and on healthcare systems. This current study aimed to translate and validate the Postpartum Specific Anxiety Scale [PSAS] into the Italian language, and to validate the tool for its use in detecting anxiety specific to motherhood. The study (N = 457) comprised 4 stages: English-Italian translation and back-translation to obtain the Italian version [PSAS-IT]; a preliminary pilot study to adapt the PSAS to the characteristics of the Italian population; measurement invariance; and internal reliability of subscales. The PSAS-IT demonstrates similar psychometric properties as the original English-language PSAS, with acceptable acceptability, construct and convergent validity, and internal consistency. Confirmatory factor analysis for multiple groups (Italy and United Kingdom) showed that the factor structure of the PSAS was valid for both groups [χ2 (2436) = 4679.481, p < 0.001, TLI = 0.969, CFI =0.972, RMSEA = 0.045, SRMR =0.064]. The resulting findings offer a reliable measure of postpartum anxiety in Italian language up to six months after birth.

The psychological impact of adult-onset craniopharyngioma: A qualitative study of the experience of patients and clinicians.

Individuals who experience social and emotional difficulties struggle to maintain successful social relationships and incur an increased risk of developing mood disorders. These, in turn, have a significant impact on psychological and physical wellbeing. A small number of medical studies suggest that patients with adult-onset craniopharyngioma (AoC) report poorer quality of life, however, no in-depth psychological research has been carried out. The present study aimed to capture a rich understanding of whether patients with AoC experience a psychological impact from their diagnosis and whether psychological factors may contribute to a poorer quality of life. Both patients with AoC and clinicians with experience of working with patients with AoC were invited to take part in a semi-structured interview. Participants were recruited from three geographically disperse National Health Service (NHS) units across the United Kingdom (UK). Eight patients and 10 clinicians took part in the study. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim and analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Two key themes, with multiple subthemes, were identified: 1) Patients experience psychological impacts of AoC; and 2) Patients also experience common physical symptoms. Patients and clinicians recognised significant psychological impact as a result of AoC, and these impacts contributed to overall poorer quality of life. Crucially, both parties also felt that further research into psychological impact of AoC was both interesting and useful.

Kappa opioid activation changes protein profiles in different regions of the brain relevant to depression

Depression is a widespread disorder with a significant burden on individuals and society. There are various available treatments for patients with depression. However, not all patients respond adequately to their treatment. Recently, the opioid system has regained interest in depression studies. Research in animals and humans suggest that blocking the kappa opioid receptor (KOR) may potentially alleviate the symptoms of depression. The mechanism behind this effect is not fully understood. Stress and alterations in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA-axis) activity are thought to play a crucial role in depression. This study aimed to characterize stress hormones and stress-related protein expression following activation of KOR using a selective agonist. The longitudinal effect was investigated 24 h after KOR activation using the selective agonist U50,488 in Sprague Dawley rats. Stress-related hormones and protein expression patterns were explored using multiplex bead-based assays and western blotting. We found that KOR activation caused an increase in both adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone (CORT) in serum. Regarding protein assays in different brain regions, phosphorylated glucocorticoid receptors also increased significantly in thalamus (THL), hypothalamus (HTH), and striatum (STR). C-Fos increased time-dependently in THL following KOR activation, extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2) increased significantly in STR and amygdala (AMG), while phosphorylated ERK1/2 decreased during the first 2 h and then increased again in AMG and prefrontal cortex (PFC). This study shows that KOR activation alters the HPA axis and ERK signaling which may cause to develop mood disorders.

Differences in gut microbiota associated with stress resilience and susceptibility to single prolonged stress in female rodents

Exposure to traumatic stress is a major risk factor for the development of neuropsychiatric disorders in a subpopulation of individuals, whereas others remain resilient. The determinants of resilience and susceptibility remain unclear. Here, we aimed to characterize the microbial, immunological, and molecular differences between stress-susceptible and stress-resilient female rats before and after exposure to a traumatic experience. Animals were randomly divided into unstressed controls (n = 10) and experimental groups (n = 16) exposed to Single Prolonged Stress (SPS), an animal model of PTSD. Fourteen days later, all rats underwent a battery of behavioral tests and were sacrificed the following day to collect different organs. Stool samples were collected before and after SPS. Behavioral analyses revealed divergent responses to SPS. The SPS treated animals were further subdivided into SPS-resilient (SPS-R) and SPS-susceptible (SPS–S) subgroups. Comparative analysis of fecal 16S sequencing before and after SPS exposure indicated significant differences in the gut microbial composition, functionality, and metabolites of the SPS-R and SPS-S subgroups. In line with the observed distinct behavioral phenotypes, the SPS-S subgroup displayed higher blood-brain barrier permeability and neuroinflammation relative to the SPS-R and/or controls. These results indicate, for the first time, pre-existing and trauma-induced differences in the gut microbial composition and functionality of female rats that relate to their ability to cope with traumatic stress. Further characterization of these factors will be crucial for understanding susceptibility and fostering resilience, especially in females, who are more likely than males to develop mood disorders.

Why Are Some People with Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS) Depressed? New Evidence That Peripheral Inflammation in the Bladder Causes Central Inflammation and Mood Disorders.

Anecdotal evidence has long suggested that patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) develop mood disorders, such as depression and anxiety, at a higher rate than the general population and recent prospective studies have confirmed this link. Breakthroughs in our understanding of the diseases underlying LUTS have shown that many have a substantial inflammatory component and great strides have been made recently in our understanding of how this inflammation is triggered. Meanwhile, studies on mood disorders have found that many are associated with central neuroinflammation, most notably in the hippocampus. Excitingly, work on other diseases characterized by peripheral inflammation has shown that they can trigger central neuroinflammation and mood disorders. In this review, we discuss the current evidence tying LUTS to mood disorders, its possible bidirectionally, and inflammation as a common mechanism. We also review modern theories of inflammation and depression. Finally, we discuss exciting new animal studies that directly tie two bladder conditions characterized by extensive bladder inflammation (cyclophosphamide-induced hemorrhagic cystitis and bladder outlet obstruction) to neuroinflammation and depression. We conclude with a discussion of possible mechanisms by which peripheral inflammation is translated into central neuroinflammation with the resulting psychiatric concerns.

Seismic activity and development of mood disorders: Findings from the 2016 Kyungju earthquake

BackgroundAn earthquake with a moment magnitude of 5.8 occurred in Kyungju on 12 September 2016. Although the earthquake was the largest seismic activity in Korean history, there were no direct casualties from the event. This study evaluated whether a moderate-level earthquake is related to acute development of mood disorders in earthquake-exposed residents. Material and methodsThe healthcare information of residents (n = 865,263) living in Kyungju and control cities (Gimpo, Jeonju, Gimhae, and Pohang) over a 10-year period (from 2010 to 2019) was gathered from the national health insurance database. Difference-in-difference analysis was used to compare the daily incidence of mood disorders (manic episode; bipolar affective disorder; depressive episode; recurrent depressive disorder) 20 weeks before (reference: −20 to −11 weeks, period 1: −10 to −1 weeks) and after (period 2: 0–9 weeks, period 3: 10–19 weeks) the earthquake. Subregional analyses based on the distance to the epicenter and stratification analyses by sex, age, and income were conducted. ResultsThe weekly average incidence rate (/100,000 persons) of mood disorders in Kyungju residents increased from 27.0 (−20 to −11 weeks) and 28.3 (−10 to −1 weeks) persons before the earthquake, to 38.1 persons (0 to 9 weeks) after the earthquake. A significant increase in the risk of developing mood disorders was observed in Kyungju residents during the 0 to 9 weeks after the earthquake when compared to the control cities [relative risk (95 % confidence intervals): vs. Gimpo, 1.40 (1.05, 1.88); vs. Jeonju, 1.45 (1.14, 1.84); vs. Gimhae, 1.48 (1.14, 1.93)]. The increase was more prominent in women, low-income individuals, and those living closer to the epicenter. ConclusionModerate-level earthquakes without direct casualties may cause mood disorders in residents living in affected areas. Mental health aid programs should be provided to earthquake victims even if the earthquake has caused limited life and property loss.

How do students cope with stress during remote learning due to COVID-19 pandemic? Biological and psychological factors-protocol of the study

Abstract Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected the mental health of the Polish population. Students are the group with a high risk of developing mood disorders. The scientific data suggest the usefulness of biological substances as potential biomarkers of psychiatric disorders. Saliva is non-invasive, quick to obtain material and a promising fluid for measuring stress and depression severity. In this paper, we present the protocol of our study, which aims to assess the utility of concentrations of biological fluids as potential biomarkers of the stress response and risk of developing depression and anxiety disorders among students of Lublin. Materials and methods: Total number of 80 students were included in the study. Participants were asked to collect saliva samples simultaneously with responding to the questionnaires concerning their mental state. Afterwards, the samples were examined with an ELISA test to assess the level of fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2), cortisol and chromogranin A (CgA). The relationship between biomarkers and severity of stress, depression, anxiety will be examined. Results: Cortisol on its own is not a good material to investigate the stress reaction in saliva due to its variable levels among people during stressful situations. Scientific data indicate the usefulness of other biomarkers or their combination to indicate the potential risk of developing depression and/or anxiety. Conclusions: Introducing objective tests, helpful for mood symptoms recognition, would improve the prevention and diagnosis of psychiatric disorders in vulnerable populations.

Stability of associations between neuroticism and microstructural asymmetry of the cingulum during late childhood and adolescence: Insights from a longitudinal study with up to 11 waves.

Adolescence is characterized by significant brain development and marks a period of the life span with an increased incidence of mood disorders, especially in females. The risk of developing mood disorders is also higher in individuals scoring high on neuroticism, a personality trait characterized by a tendency to experience negative and anxious emotions. We previously found in a cross-sectional study that neuroticism is associated with microstructural left-right asymmetry of the fronto-limbic white matter involved in emotional processing, with opposite effects in female and male adolescents. We now have extended this work collecting longitudinal data in 76 typically developing children and adolescents aged 7-18 years, including repeated MRI sampling up to 11 times. This enabled us, for the first time, to address the critical question, whether the association between neuroticism and frontal-limbic white matter asymmetry changes or remains stable across late childhood and adolescence. Neuroticism was assessed up to four times and showed good intraindividual stability and did not significantly change with age. Conforming our cross-sectional results, females scoring high on neuroticism displayed increased left-right cingulum fractional anisotropy (FA), while males showed decreased left-right cingulum FA asymmetry. Despite ongoing age-related increases in FA in cingulum, the association between neuroticism and cingulum FA asymmetry was already expressed in females in late childhood and remained stable across adolescence. In males, the association appeared to become more prominent during adolescence. Future longitudinal studies need to cover an earlier age span to elucidate the time point at which the relationship between neuroticism and cingulum FA asymmetry arises.